South Africa, Malawi, and Gambia have qualified for the final round of the African Nations Championship (CHAN). South Africa defeated Egypt 3-1, Malawi won 4-0 on aggregate against Comoros, and Gambia triumphed over Gabon in a penalty shootout. The CHAN tournament has been postponed to August due to preparation delays.
South Africa achieved an impressive 3-1 victory against Egypt in Ismailia, securing their advancement to the final qualifying stage for the African Nations Championship (CHAN). This triumph, combined with a 4-2 aggregate win following a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Bloemfontein, positions South Africa to compete against Malawi in a two-legged tie in May for a place in the tournament.
The CHAN tournament, initially slated for February, has been postponed to August due to preparation delays, and will be hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Despite being favored after the first leg against South Africa, Egypt could not match the intensity of their opponents, narrowly trailing 2-1 by halftime.
South African captain Neo Maema opened the scoring in the 15th minute and narrowly missed a first-half hat-trick due to two shots striking the woodwork. Yandisa Mfolozi extended South Africa’s lead in the 27th minute, capitalizing on Egypt’s failure to clear. Egypt briefly threatened with a goal from Abou el Enein, but Siphelele Luthuli’s successful penalty in the second half restored South Africa’s two-goal aggregate advantage, quashing any hopes of an Egyptian comeback.
In another match, Malawi secured their qualification decisively with a 4-0 aggregate win over the Comoros. They followed a 2-0 victory in the second leg, courtesy of goals from Wongani Lungu and Binwell Katinji. The Comoros faced difficulties as they have no stadium meeting international standards, leading to their first-leg match being played away.
Additionally, Gambia advanced after defeating Gabon in a penalty shootout. Following two goalless draws, Gambia converted all five penalties to win 5-3, setting up a final-round encounter with Algeria, who received a bye. Notably, the CHAN tournament is unique as it features only players from domestic leagues, with matches contributing to FIFA world rankings.
In summary, South Africa, Malawi, and Gambia secured their spots in the final qualifying round of the African Nations Championship. These victories showcase the competitive spirit of the tournament, which is scheduled to occur in August, emphasizing players’ domestic league performances. Furthermore, the advancement of these teams underscores the dynamic nature of African football as stakeholders look forward to the upcoming matches.
Original Source: newscentral.africa
